ˈprovidently, adv.
[f. provident + -ly2.]
In a provident manner.
1. With foresight and providing care; prudently.
| 1487 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 403/2 The Kyng..hath been besied..so that [neither] his Grace nor yet his moost Honorable Councill myght..provydently make Leesez [etc.]. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 74 Did he enuie them, or els did he prouidently forsee vnto them bothe, when he tooke theim bothe from vs. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 137 He prouidently foresaw in what danger the Oguzian state stood. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. Introd. ii. 51 Our laws might be providently made, and well executed, but they might not always have the good of the people in view. 1889 Gretton Memory's Harkb. 61 He brought first a clean handkerchief, which his bed-maker had providently supplied. |
b. With economy that looks ahead; thriftily.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 228 The ant..more prouidently employing her paines then the grasshopper. 1607 Stat. in Hist. Wakefield Gram. Sch. (1892) 57 Providentlie to lay out for the schole wants. 1641 Epitaph in Hissey Holiday on Road (1887) 404 Prudently simple, providently wary, To the world a Martha, and to heaven a Mary. 1694 Motteux Rabelais v. Prol., Providently to save Charges. |
† 2. = providentially adv. 2, 2 b. Obs.
| 1600 Hakluyt Voy. III. 708 And also prouidently defeated their dangerous and almost ineuitable fire-works. 1681 E. Murphy State Ireland §18 Providently one John Mackeevir going by. |
So ˈprovidentness rare, the quality of being provident or foreseeing.
| 1727 Bailey vol. II, Providentness, Thriftiness, Savingness. 1761 Ascham's Wks., Toxoph. 83 Companions of shotinge, be providentness [earlier edd. prouidens], goode heede geving, true meetinge, honest comparison. |